The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her relatives this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study found a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.